Rule 1 – children looked after

Children looked after by the local authority, including children who were previously looked after but were then adopted (or became subject to a child arrangements order or a special guardianship order).

Adopted children must have been previously looked after by an English or Welsh local authority.

Children who were not looked after immediately before being adopted, or made the subject of a child arrangement order or special guardianship order, will not be prioritised under this rule.

Evidence needed (rule 1)

Include a letter or document from your child's social worker, advisory teacher or other professional as evidence.

Rule 2 – medical or social needs

Children who have a particular medical or social need to go to the specific school being applied for.

All Hertfordshire schools can support children with a wide range of additional needs and are expected to accommodate severe medical needs.

An application made under rule 2 should clearly demonstrate why the school applied for is the only one that can meet your child’s need in a way that no other school can.

Evidence needed (rule 2)

Recent independent objective evidence, for example from a doctor, psychologist, social worker or other professional involved with your child.

Professional evidence that outlines exceptional family circumstances making clear why only one school can meet your child’s needs.

If the requested school is not the nearest school to your child’s home address, give specific reasons why closer schools will not meet your child's needs.

Evidence must relate specifically to the school being applied for under rule 2.

A panel of officers will decide whether the evidence provided is enough to meet the requirements for this rule.

Contact the admissions team if there are exceptional reasons stopping you from getting independent objective professional evidence by the application deadline. Applications without this evidence will be rejected.

Examples of cases that have and haven't been accepted under rule 2

Examples of cases that have been accepted under rule 2:

children with an exceptional illness or disability (for example, restricted mobility) who can only reasonably attend one school.

where only one school is suitable due to child protection issues. We'll give priority to children whose education would be seriously affected if they did not go to a particular school.

Examples of cases that have not been accepted under rule 2:

cases made around childminding arrangements, such as using a childminder that children are already familiar with who caters for children attending certain schools. Or childminding by family members who live close to a specific school. These cases weren't upheld because they're not exceptional. Many families rely on complex childminding arrangements.

Cases made for children with specific learning or behavioural needs where the professional evidence submitted is not school specific.

All schools are able to support children with a wide variety of individual needs. If a child’s individual needs warrant a statement of special educational needs or an education health and care (EHC) plan, the statement or EHC plan will name the appropriate school.

Medical cases where even though there is a severe illness, more than one school could accommodate the child’s needs.

Applying under rule 2 during the continuing interest process

We'll only consider applications under rule 2 (medical or social reasons) when you first apply for a school.

However, if your child's medical or social circumstances have changed a lot since your original application, you can apply under rule 2 at the continuing interest stage.

You'll need to tell us the change in circumstances and include relevant professional evidence.

Rule 6 – outside priority area, living closest to school

"We consider all rule 2 applications individually but very few are accepted.

In the last 3 years, only 16% of rule 2 applications, on average, have been agreed each year."
Karen, Admissions officer

Tiebreak

Admission rules are applied in order. If more children qualify for a school place under a particular rule than there are places available, a tiebreak will be used. That means the next rule will be applied to those children.

A tiebreak will also be used if 2 applications have addresses that measure the same distance from a school.

For example, if 2 applications had identical home to school distance measurements, a random tiebreak would be used to decide which applicant is offered a place.

Every applicant is given a unique random number for each of their school preferences. When a random tiebreak is needed, this random number is used to allocate the place – the lowest number is given priority.

If 2 applications were received from the same block of flats, the applicant with the lower door number would be classed as nearest and offered a place because they are likely to be closer to the ground floor and, therefore, the school.

This tiebreak method is used for all schools that we manage admissions for.

6th form arrangements

6th form admissions are also covered by the School Admissions Code. Allschools must publish the academic requirements necessary to enter the 6thform (Years 12 and 13) and details of oversubscription criteria that will be used if the 6th form is oversubscribed.